MADISON, WIS. – Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation, Inc. (WROF) was proud to announce its 2011 Veterinary Loan Award winners. Each year loans are awarded to students who plan to practice veterinary medicine and work in large animal veterinary practices in rural Wisconsin communities. These loans are unique in that part of the loan is forgiven based on each year that the recipient actually serves rural Wisconsin.

On Wednesday, August 10, WROF presented loans to each of four University of Wisconsin-Madison Veterinary Medicine students. Whitney Auth, originally from the Durand area, plans to start her career following graduation next spring as a bovine veterinary. Danielle Broeren, who hails from the Kaukauna area, wants to work with large animals when she earns her degree. Ellsworth native, Jonathan Kornmann, has the desire to work in a progressive food animal medicine practice. Jessica Southwick, from West Salem, is primarily interested in working with cattle, specifically dairy cattle. These students were selected from a deep pool of highly qualified candidates for these WROF loans.

Since its inception, the Foundation has empowered over 5,000 individuals with over $5.8 million in scholarships and grants in agricultural and rural health care education in more than 30 Wisconsin institutions and programs. As a 501(c) (3) charitable foundation, WROF has made a tangible, positive impact on the economic health and quality of life in the state’s areas. For more information, visit www.wrof.org .